The best books and films of 2022, some description thereof, as well as a few of the worst.
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Various writings that touch on reading as a meaningful, life-affirming, intellectually-edifying activity.
Jane Eyre: Post-Colonial Christian Zealotry?
Reading "Jane Eyre" for the second time revealed a quite different— quite Christian and not postcolonial—one from what inhabited my memory (and imagination).
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- 2022-12-26
- On Literature, Books Reading Journal
Pleasures in Reading: Edgar Lee Master’s “Spoon River Anthology”
From the "Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters, excerpts and commentary on the experience of its reading
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- 2022-11-10
- On Literature, Books Idle Reflections Reading Journal
Powerful May Reading, Viewing: 2022 edition
May reading and viewing of Ashley Vaught in 2022. Best of: "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia, "Dubliners", and "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy" by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
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- 2022-06-02
- Monthly Reading, Viewing Report
Reading Ulysses’ “Oxen of the Sun” (to oneself, aloud, and just in general)
On the experience, specifically pain, of reading as instanced with reference to the modernist masterpiece "Ulysses" by Irish writer James Joyce.
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- 2022-05-23
- On Literature, Books Reading Journal
Narcoleptically Read & Watched: April 2022
How do you read and watch narcoleptically? Binging series and reading sparingly, here and there.
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- 2022-05-04
- Monthly Reading, Viewing Report
Fred Hyatt: Not Enough Technology Pessimism!
A spirited response enjoining MORE pessimism to Fred Hyatt’s Washington Post editorial on technology and democracy
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- 2021-05-28
- On Ideas, Concepts, Intuitions
Coming to Booker T. Washington’s “Up From Slavery”
The circumstances of my purchase and knowledge of “Up From Slavery,” Booker T. Washington’s most famous autobiography
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- 2021-02-10
- Reading Journal On Literature, Books
Bad Poetry Morning
Repeatedly not finishing a sentence. Either subject or predicate but not both. Becomes some poetry itself.
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- 2021-01-17
- Idle Reflections
Read Viewed Consumed 2020-12
Perhaps I began the month of December inauspiciously, insofar as I read/viewed/consumed nothing on the first day of the month (see below). In fact, I did read two different Harry...
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- 2021-01-02
- Monthly Reading, Viewing Report
Anna Seghers’ “Transit”: Profound Unknowing
In Anna Seghers’ novel “Transit,” no one really knows who the other is. The reader is never certain of who the narrator really is.
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- 2020-12-15
- On Literature, Books Reading Journal
Read Viewed Consumed 2020-11
During the month of November what I read and viewed—what I consumed—was less varied and somewhat sparse. In fact, lost some weight.
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- 2020-11-30
- Monthly Reading, Viewing Report
Sexy Idea #2: Presentism—The Most Dangerous Prejudice
Calling presentism a prejudice is a little like calling 45 a bad president: It’s not strong enough.
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- 2020-11-14
- On Ideas, Concepts, Intuitions
Julio Cortázar’s “Bestiary”: Man-eating animals
The “Bestiary” narrates pre-adolescent Isabel’s summer vacation with her cousin Nino and … a tiger.
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- 2020-10-25
- Short Story Month On Literature, Books
“Blind Geronimo and His Brother”: Mistrust Finds its End
Brothers Geronimo and Carlo travel the roads of 19th century Italy, entertaining passers-by with song, but one plants a seed of mistrust exposing years of alienation.
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- 2020-10-21
- On Literature, Books Short Story Month